For all the struggles, failures, and successes of African American organizations like the NAACP, the MLK Center for Non Violent Social Change, or persons like Jesse Jackson, Dexter Scott King, and others, I’m not aware of any active involvement by them in pursuing the truth about Ray Robinson and his murder at WK2.

The Rev. Ralph Abernathy made the statement at WK2 to Means, Banks, and others on 3-8-73 that ” I will do everything in my power to cause the White House to intercede and cause the Secretary of The Interior to reopen negotiations.”

Dick Gregory stood with Marlon Brando in front of the court house at Cedar Rapids, Iowa on 7-8-76-but who stands now for Ray, his widow, and his orphaned children?

Here you have a person who was active, committed, and known in the lodestone that was the civil rights movement-yet seemingly has been all but forgotten and ignored, while other cases from as far back as the fifties and sixties have been pursued.

Ray Robinson was murdered for being an unrepentent black man who wouldn’t kiss the various AIM “massa’s” asses -that is not only a criminal act but a violation of his rights, and I fail to see any difference in that he wasn’t lynched, hung from a tree, or dragged behind an automobile somewhere in the South.

If members of King’s own family in their interest and pursuit of justice can announce that they did not believe James Earl Ray was their fathers killer and in turn become advocates for him, surely those in leadership can make an effort to bring justice and closure to Robinson’s family-he deserves something more than laying in an unmarked grave as the victim of a group of xenophobic petty thugs. There is a dearth of modern day heroes and I would think Ray fills the bill.

Whatever legacy the NAACP creates will forever be lessened by their apparent failure to actively pursue and address the issue of Ray Robinson.

I think it was only natural for Ray that in recognizing a familiar misery the nations faced he went to WK2 with the best of intentions, and a sincere desire to assist-I also think that in very short order he saw through the charade that was the AIM leadership, witnessed the looting and pillaging, spoke out about it, showed his disdain, and that set the stage for his murder.

After all who was this “uppity nigger” to challenge or disrespect such great “warriors”, such revered “medicine men”, such “freedom figthers”?

One of the definitions in looking up the word nigger is “a person of ANY race or origin regarded as contemptible, inferior, ignorant, etc.” I’d say the only “niggers” based on their contemptible, inferior, and ignorant actions present at wk2 were the AIM leadership.

Ray Robinson was anything but a “nigger”, above all other things he was a good and decent man-his history verifies that, maybe some day people will understand that being a man has nothing to do with ethnicity.

My advice to the AIM brotherhood? Tighten up those sphincters boys, the man’s going to be coming round sooner or later.

One should not forget that in promoting the ravaging and destruction of wk2 as a “liberation” holiday it is in effect also a celebration of every wrong committed there-every abuse, and every murder-whether it be Ray’s, Annie’s in the aftermath, or those in unknown graves-hell of thing that, and speaks volumes about any who either promote or celebrate that event.

Some may be excused for doing so due to a lack of knowledge, or understanding concerning the truth, others most assuredly cannot, and view it only as another opportunity to get some air time.

I find it not only a profound mystery, but a grave disservice to Ray, to his family, and black people in general, that in searching the net you are hard pressed to find any advocacy for him other than in sites like IWJ and NFIC-and yet the net is inundated with AIM and those too familiar “leaders” spinning their tales, promoting themselves, and denying everything but the incontestable fact that the sun does rise and set. They may get around to that though, or take credit for it.

One thing for sure though-neither AIM or the NAACP is leading the charge-understandable for the one-a pity for the other. I never knew Ray, but with some it isn’t necessary to have known them personally to know the kind of individual they were.

There are songs to be found about Annie on the net, how about one for Ray? How about some justice for Ray and his family-he is no less a victim, and no less deserving.

Since most of the roles of saviors and messiahs have already been taken little has been left for the AIM leadership than to characterize themselves as modern day Magi-they seem to think they are the ones pointing to the star and leading the way.

The gifts they have borne are something less than precious though, no frankincense or myrrh-to the contrary mostly destruction and increased hardship for the people while their personal situation more closely reflects suburbia than the rez, what with their ranches,
businesses, and the ever present “charitable” foundations.

To view their financial situations it would appear as though the process has been reversed-a sense of entitlement and a belief the gifts are to be layed at their feet.

Whether it was a young girls body to be used and cast aside, frequent flyer miles amassed while going first class, hurried cash settlements to waive lawsuits against sports teams made on the way out of town, or the ability to create a movement predicated on a false denial of guilt.

In comparison, of what importance was it that some died along the way like Annie Mae and Ray Robinson-if Nogeeshik burned to death while confined to a wheel chair, or Giago’s newspaper was fire bombed?

Was the cost Riegert, Gildersleeve, or the village of Wounded Knee made to pay of greater value? Is the cost PR pays to this day in the aftermath of greater significance? Or the stereotypical bum rap all the nations face as a result of the Magi?

None of the nations ever turned to or accepted the tainted money or verbal allegiance of oppressive dictatorships, of communist countries like the former Soviet Union, but the organization the Magi represented saw only the money, the ever present priority -and prostituted every tradition ever known to chase after it.

To this day the charade continues while they speak of pride in association-Madoff must be green with envy at their success. Don’t forget to send that monetary homage, or purchase one of those books-they have an expectation to maintain the lifestyle they have grown accustomed to.

Below you will find a letter written by Barbara Nixon, a former AIM member, addressed to one of the Magi, and also mentions others in the process. I’d say like Lucy, someone’s got some ‘splaining to do.

Barbara Nixon
AN OPEN LETTER TO CLYDE BELLECOURT:
Long one….worth the read……

Clyde
I never knew. I never knew when I danced in support at your sundances
…those 4 years, the kind of man you were. I never knew when I stayed at
your home what you were capable of ….or suspected of………….of
all things conspiracy to murder. The years that I spent as a
supporter of the American Indian Movement, in Pipestone, and at GGC
meetings in Minneapolis, I thought you were a good man…doing good
things for your people….what a joke Clyde. The times that I spent
staying with you and your wife Peggy, and catering to that venomous
tongued brother of yours, Vernon.I never realized, I never knew…
who or what I was involving myself with when I became a member of AIM,
or the dangers that came along with my affiliation. I respected you, AIM
was something that I wanted to be a part of.Those four years that I
spent going to AIM Sundance’, I stood strong, regardless of the
physical, mental, and emotional tests that I was put through, not only
by my supporting and participating, but by the very people that I was
supporting. . I stood strong for AIM, for Derek Whirlwind GGC member who
introduced me to the movement and its leadership, I stood in AWE of
your ceremonies, at the strength, endurance, and sacrifice that was
made for the ‘Oyate’.There
was nothing negative that anyone could have ever said to me about
‘Clyde Bellecourt’. It was truly an eye opener to feel prejudice for the
first time in my life walking in the other guys moccasins…….never the
less a good thing for me spiritually. I had grown so much as a person
those years, and as a woman, my eyes opened from a sheltered life living
in New York.Blessings from Dennis Banks came, on the formation of
AIM in the Northeast that Derek and I founded on behalf of AIM. It was a
time of change we thought …where finally there might be some hope of
‘Solidarity’ between West and East. That Native Americans might move
foreword in this new Native American Civil Rights Movement of a new
millennium.It was the same year that Ingrid Washawuntuck , was
honored at AIM’s Sundance, that I began to hear the whispers through
camp of…Annie Mae. It was the women that whispered when they talked
about her, usually at night when camp became quiet. Words from women
like Lina, Vernon’s ex wife……Flower, Little Buffalo, and even Raven
Bellecourt ( Vernon’s daughter)… crying to me at one point that, she
just wanted to get away from all ‘this’ and anything that had to do with
AIM; begging me to take her back to New York with Derek and I when we
left because she was so ashamed of the ‘things’ her father Vernon had
done…….I just didn’t get any of it then. I didn’t understand…I never
knew……… Because I had ears to listen with, a ‘good heart’
that I came with, and a strong body to endure, I continued on the
struggle for Native rights… this is when everything started to become
tense and confusing. The Mohawks, the Oneida’s the Peaquat’s, the
Mic Mac’s, the Maliseet, Aqwasasknee, to name a few of the tribal
representatives that we met with…. were angry. The Name Annie Mae was
not whispered anymore in the darkness of night …it was being screamed
out by the people….‘WE WILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH AIM UNTIL WE FIND
OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ANNIE MAE!’ I still didn’t understand.It was in
2002.…February, right after a GGC meeting in Minneapolis Clyde, that
Vernon went into a vicious verbal tirade, waving his cane at everyone
stating that he should beat the fuck out of us all…Derek had
challenged him of the rumors about Annie Mae.This was the same man
…who when I first met him referred to ALL women, including his wife and
daughter…. as ‘nothing but C_ _TS.’ Now in my direct line of sight
I witnessed the real Vernon…a man who hated women, and displayed direct
acts of violence towards them when either questioned or challenged by
them…..even Your wife Peggy…..your brother threatened. It was the
next morning Clyde when a phone call had come in from Vernon, that we
were being ‘summoned’ to meet him at Pepito’s restaurant in Minneapolis
for an early lunch. The atmosphere was ominous and foreboding, the place
small and dingy. Remember Clyde..you were there. Vernon, Mary Jane
Medrano or MJ… MJ’s son Dave Wilson, Jim Anderson, his wife, myself,
Derek Whirlwind…..wittness’ Clyde……. of how your brother
threatened to kill me…to do the same thing to me that he did to that
‘MIC MAC’ Woman… Vernon yelling at me, something that he was infamous
for, that made several people from the table get up to leave. It
was then Clyde, when your brother Vern looked at me raising up from the
table a bit and said ..’What is your name again….Nixon? You’re a white
woman that does‘t belong in Indian business, you’re an infiltrator, a
fed and a pig….. I was speechless and very confused. ‘I’ll find out
about you too, he said …and take care of you too… the same way I did
that Mic Mac Woman’. Remember Clyde…Grabbing him by the arm to sit
back down, you told him to ‘Shut up…..It was not good to be talking
about this stuff … to be quiet…. so that the people might forget…….!’
I turned to walk out, Derek dragging me by the arm…. Vernon uttered
again his final threat……”’You’ll be lucky if you don’t find yourself
in a ditch too.’ Our affiliation with the American Indian Movement was over.That
was over 8 years ago, and my travels have taken me to many places in
Indian Country in search of answers, from Nova Scotia to Wounded Knee to
find out about this ‘Mic Mac’ woman called Annie Mae.People are
saying that you were involved with her murder Clyde, and that your
brother Vernon gave the order…. and that you carried it out.Clyde…its
only a matter of time until they will come for you. It is time for you
and Dennis to step up… as Dennis once said ‘we will all have to take
responsibility for our actions in the end.’ Clyde…The end has
come…………don’t go to your Creator with this horrible evil on your
soul………. Thank you Clyde for keeping your brother off of me
that day, so that I can be here to speak of my knowledge of AIM, its
internal workings, its member, and about your brother. I know you were
your brothers keeper your whole life, it showed the way he treated
you……but he’s gone Clyde…or is he? Who are you still protecting or
hiding…everybody knows Clyde…everybody. Barbara Nixon
Wall Photos
AIM WILL NEVER EVER GET MY SUPPORT….NEVER!
Id like a answer from AIM, if you think Annie Mae was innocent and
such a good person why is none from AIM supporting action for justice
for her murder, why has Means removed all traces of posts and links
from his web pages.
why was no AIM… hierarchy at Annie Mae’s funeral.
why is it that the same names come up in testimony after testimony,
Peltier, Graham Means Banks.
the links are already their the jig saw puzzle slowly gets put back
together after 34 years of hiding it, John Grahams trial this week is
not the end, its the beginning of the end for lots of people.
AIM WILL NEVER HAVE MY SUPPORT EVER!

And finally a couple of gems from Means:
How do you feel about the accusations of stereotyping that some have made about your movie roles: Pochahontas, The Last of the Mohicans, and Natural Born Killers?

“There are no stereotypes in Pochahontas.. None whatsoever. That’s the finest movie ever done about Indian people in Hollywood. ”

What about your role in Natural Born Killers?

“I was the only “good” thing in it. I don’t mean that facetiously. Everything and everyone else in it was evil or bad. That was one of my proudest achievements in acting. [The director] Oliver Stone intercut a couple of my scenes, the dying scene and the singing with the gourd by the fire, throughout the movie. It was a great chance for me as an actor. I had to speak Navajo in the movie, and I know I spoke it very badly, but at least I got to speak [as an Indian], and I also handled a coiled rattlesnake. It was a very satisfying experience, and I like the movie’s statement and so did the rest of America.”

Fails to mention above that the handling of snakes in his great acting job was offensive to the Dine as they believe them to be unclean- but then of what importance is that? And I wonder exactly what statement the movie made in it’s totality of being “evil or bad”? I assume then I am a minority of one, as I thought the movie was a waste of time and money. And Pocahontas is Hollywood’s finest effort? Get real Russell.

I suppose I should begin by stating that I’m not a foreign affairs expert, nor do I belong to a “think tank”-never even been invited to participate in one. But that suits me, as I believe they are for the most part comprised of arrogant, full of themselves, over inflated gas bags.

I have opinions about things, among them opinions about the Middle East-I think people have a right to be free, to be secure in their person, and to rid themselves of despotic rulers-that’s the gist of it.

A real talking point for some is the “Zionists”, and that Palestine is a clone of the American rez-maybe it is-but terms like Zionist sound too much like something Aryan Nations would say for me, those supremists who are opposed to everyone who isn’t white, and think Adolph was a stand up guy.

That’s EVERYONE, including the indigenous-but the usage of such a term is popular armchair anarchist fare and I suspect will forever remain in the lexicon of some who call themselves patriots.

In following events in the Middle East, in particular the dystopian society of Libya, and while being aware of AIM’s penchant for going where the dollar is and looking for those “donations” and “investments” from Oberst Ghadafi, I wonder if there is a sense of opportunity?

Maybe Gadhafi could be granted asylum in the faux Republic and transfer all that ill gotten gain to the so called Indigenous Bank-think of the financial windfall- a chicken in every pot, an Iphone in every pocket, and two cars in every garage.

There’s an old saying that a man is known by the company he keeps-more and more that has the ring of truth-but I think nations are also known by the company they keep, and I am of the belief that if some reversal of process eventuates and it is the people who make the decisions as is their right, Gadhafi would have to take his money and go to Venezuela or some other Utopian dreamland-at least in this hypothetical scenario.

The collecting of donations, or so called investments from dictators whose hands drip with blood will not create anything of value, soliciting or accepting what amounts to blood money to facilitate some alleged good is akin to a Mafia kingpin who lives a life of crime and then purchases a dispensation from the church to absolve it-neither have value, and neither will work.